The Hero of Panama: A Tale of the Great CanalBrereton, F. S. (Frederick Sadleir)
General
The Hero of Panama: A Tale of the Great Canal
Brereton, F. S. (Frederick Sadleir)
Panama Canal (Panama) -- Juvenile fiction
Need the reader wonder that the return of the party caused a huge
sensation? Indeed the excitement nearly caused a stoppage of work along
the zone, a matter almost without precedent. For the hustle and
perseverance of the white employees is something out of the ordinary.
The fever to press on with an undertaking in which their own personal
honour becomes, sooner or later, helplessly involved will hear of no
delay, and thrusts aside all obstacles. But the news 'phoned up and down
the zone was really too entrancing. Jim's name was soon on every man's
lips, while even stolid officials cheered when they heard that the gang
of robbers was destroyed, the leader captured, and the dollars
recovered. Besides, Sadie was back again, and that caused the utmost
satisfaction, her abduction having roused the anger of the workers. A
week later found Jim promoted to a still more responsible position,
while a reward in money was handed to him, and to his three trusty
servants. With the help of Phineas and other people George obtained a
post amongst the employees, and should you happen to call in at the
isthmus, there you will find him and his brother, as eager as their
comrades.
For strenuous work is the order of the day, and every day, along the
fifty miles of works. Let Americans not forget it. Let those who can,
pay a visit to their kith and kin slaving at the vast project their
country has commenced on, and bear in mind that the spirit of dogged
courage, of common sense and energy, which won advancement for the hero
of this narrative, is possessed by one and all of the workers. For those
others, the more numerous body, who for business reasons and others are
unable to visit Panama or Colon, we say, let them obtain the fullest
information as to the giant canal which is building there. The day is
coming, is indeed getting very near at hand, when America will achieve a
triumph, and when it will behove each and every citizen to know every
detail, so that the boys and girls of the race, the future citizens of
America, always eager for knowledge, may be told how the triumph was
accomplished, how thousands laboured and slaved for years far from the
sight of their fellows, and how by dint of superhuman effort, by
astuteness and most praise-worthy perseverance, they brought their task
to a successful termination. For ourselves we long for the day when we
may board a steamer and voyage on her decks from the Atlantic up through
the giant locks of Gatun to that vast lake which will extend to Obispo,
and from thence steam through the cutting at Culebra, finally descending
through the locks at Pedro Miguel and at Milaflores to Pacific level. We
look forward to that great day, knowing that none will admire more than
we shall the work which Jim and thousands of others will have helped to
accomplish. As for Jim himself, we wish him all prosperity. He is a true
American. Idleness he does not know, while a strenuous life attracts
him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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